Part of the Series Other Sides of HIV: People Taking HIV Meds Share Stories About Side Effects

By Michael Brewster

March 4, 2014

Michael Brewster

When I first started taking medication for my HIV, Epivir (lamivudine) + Viracept (nelfinavir mesylate) + Zerit (stavudine), I had many side effects. Nausea with some vomiting, my cholesterol and triglycerides went really high, had night sweats really bad, and then I started noticing the loss of fat in my legs and arms and it built up around my stomach and the back of my shoulders and neck area. I was told I had lipodystrophy. And then I ended up with neuropathy with numbing and tingling and then pain in my feet really bad, and in my arms and hands at times.

At the time, this medication was working on my HIV like we wanted it to, so I didn't want to change to something else and stayed on this medication regimen for five years before I changed to Atripla [efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC]. At this point, things are doing great and I only have to deal with the pain in my feet. All other side effects have stopped. At first, I was really hurting a lot and it made me feel like I wouldn't be able to stand it much longer. Finally, the doctor could tell I was really suffering and he put me on methadone, but about a month after I started the methadone, I got a severe case of shingles. It took my HIV specialist to tell my doctor that the methadone could have helped cause the shingles together with the medications for HIV I was on. So I had to go through getting off the methadone slowly and go on other pain medications.

Currently, I am taking MS Contin (morphine sulfate controlled-release) and Norco (hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen) for my pain. It really took about two months before it really helped stop the worst of the pain. I still have some pain from time to time, but it doesn't last long because by the time it comes, I take one of the pain medications, because even though I am on two different medications, I do not take them at the same time. I take them six hours apart. I have been told by my HIV doctor that I will have to deal with this pain for the rest of my life because of that first round of HIV medications. I do still get nausea from time to time, but it is nowhere near as bad as it was when I first started taking HIV medications.

This article was provided by TheBody.com. It is a part of the publication Other Sides of HIV.
You can find this article online by typing this address into your Web browser:
http://www.thebody.com/content/73977/when-constant-pain-is-a-reality.html

General Disclaimer: TheBody.com is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through TheBody.com should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.